November 02, 2012 "The
Independent" --
Britain is considering stationing warplanes in the Persian Gulf
as the confrontation with Iran over its nuclear programme
continues amid rising tension in the region, The Independent has
learnt.

The possible deployment of the Eurofighter Typhoons follows
talks with the United Arab Emirates to bolster the UK’s presence
in the region at a time when Israel is threatening military
strikes against Tehran and much of the Middle-East is in
turbulence in the aftershock of the Arab Spring and Syria’s
civil war.

The decision on whether to send the planes at such a volatile
time will be made by David Cameron, after further talks with the
rulers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and an announcement is expected
to be made in the near future.

The arrival of British aircraft is bound to fuel the Iranian
sense of insecurity even if there are assurances that the move
is not aimed at them. The Defence Secretary Philip Hammond
yesterday said European nations must be prepared to “take a
bigger role in relation to North Africa and the Middle East”.

Israel, whose Defence Minister Ehud Barak is in London at the
moment with the Iran crisis the main topic of discussion, is
said to be “fully aware” and supportive of the discussions over
the warplanes.

The British Government has urged Israel to exercise restraint
over Iran, pointing out that sanctions are having a crippling
effect on the Iranian economy – with the fall-out from the
punitive measures making the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
increasingly unpopular and creating frictions in the ruling
hierachy.

However, at the same time, UK military commanders are looking at
the possibility of sending British jets to a base in Abu Dhabi
which is currently being used by American and French forces as a
confidence building measure but also, crucially, in case there
are attempts by the Iranians to block the Strait of Hormuz, the
waterway through which 40 per cent of the world’s oil supplies
are shipped.

The Ministry of Defence said in a statement: “The UK regularly
deploys Typhoon to UAE as part of our routine exercise programme
and to demonstrate our military commitment to UAE and the
security of the wider region. We have a mutual interest with our
GCC [Gulf] partners in ensuring peace and stability in the
region, and exercises such as this allow us to practice working
together.” The MoD added: “These deployments are not due to our
concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme. As we continue to make
clear, the Government does not believe military action against
Iran is the right course of action at this time, although no
option is off the table.”

However, The Independent has learnt from highly senior military
and diplomatic sources that the Al Dhafra airbase, 20 miles
south of Abu Dhabi, is being looked at as a possible station for
the Typhoons. The base is in use by French Mirage
fighter-bombers as well as the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing of
the US Air Force with jets and Patriot missile batteries and
well located for operations in the Gulf.

Tehran has been bitterly critical about the American and French
presence in the Gulf saying that it was an attempt to intimidate
and that it posed a threat to their national interests.

Mr Barak said in London this week that Iran appears to have
pulled back from proceeding full-steam to acquire nuclear
weapons. But he reiterated Israel’s determination to carry out a
military strike without warning if it felt this was necessary
and met senior British military commanders as well as ministers.

One senior British officer said: “We do not think there is any
need for military action at the moment. But we are considering
all eventualities and where the UK should position itself. The
decision on deployment will be made on mutual interest and
growing interdependence between the UK and the UAE in the
long-term.”

It has not yet been decided which country would pay for the
Typhoons’ presence. However, the UAE government picks up the
operational costs for the French, which has been variously
estimated to be between €20 million and €45 million per year.

The UK has carried out two air exercises with the UAE, one
codenamed Al Khanjar in 2010, involving Eurofighter Typhoons,
and another one this year, with Tornado GR4s. The Tornados are,
however, being phased out by 2019 and BAE has stated that the
UAE has “real and genuine” interest in buying 60 of its Typhoons
in preference to the French Dassault Rafale.

A massive contract for the Indian Air Force has gone to the the
Rafale instead of the Typhoon, but British military commanders
insist the Typhoon deployment to Abu Dhabi is guided by
strategic rather than commercial considerations.

Weapon of choice: Eurofighter Typhoon

The Eurofighter Typhoon, introduced in 2003, was the result of
an ambitious project by the governments of the UK, Germany,
Italy and Spain to build the most advanced multi-function
fighter jet in the world. Despite coming in almost 75 per cent
over budget and being delayed several times, the jet is seen as
a technologically advanced modern aircraft with few rivals.

The Typhoon's performance in the Libyan conflict last year,
where it flew over 600 missions, earned it plaudits – and
interest from the governments of India and Brazil. With a top
speed of 1,320mph and impressive manoeuvrability in the air, the
Typhoon has often been compared to the US Air Force's F-35
fighter jet. In 2007, Saudi Arabia confirmed it had signed a
£4.43bn contract for 72 Typhoons.

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